THE BLACK & WHITES
Fucked Up Heart 7”

New band from Talbot Adams of Royal Pendletons fame. Pretty nice but not going all the way. Nice full sound and catchy songs. Like a more powerful sounding Nerves. But it really sounds old. Like an old johnny Thunders recording. I’m sick and tired of power pop as the new big thing. It’s just so lame most of the time. This is so much more and that makes it nicer, can’t help but think that these songs would make great punkrock tunes though. Go for more fury!

(Thomas)
Shattered Records

THE BLINDS
Lost + 3 7”
Debut release from this Uppsala crew. Actually both the new ken Rock releases has their origins in Uppsala as that’s where most if not all the members in Snuffe By the Yakuza also hail from. Anyway, back to the Blinds. These guys are kinda the dirty and more punky sounding opposite of the Regulations. This kinda punk/hardcore is really taking Sweden by storm these days and the Blinds are probably the best band yet. Four punk hc-sounding dittys but with way more punkrock than usual. Great stuff. Check these guys out! They’re playing hc but aren’t afraid to rock out either. Cool shit!
(Thomas)
Ken Rock Records

BOSTON CHINKS
Coltrane 7”

Had the pleasure of catching these Memphis cats live in Austin awhile back and they were totally great. This single almost captures their liveshow but not quite. Anyway, they play great catchy punkrock the way great Memphis punkrock sounds. Think Oblivians, Reatards etc. Yeah. And they write great songs too. Fucking great debut! Get it now!

(Thomas)
Goner Records

CHUCK VIOLENCE
Bandolero Mexicano 7”

One man band with a nice rollicking rock’n’roll sound with a mexican twist. Songs are kind of forgetttable but it’s still nice. Reminds me a little of DM Bob maybe as far as contemporaries go. He’s got a lot of rockabilly influences and that shines through, it’s way more loud and the guitar is pretty cool too. Think this would work for people into the obscure rockabilly artists released on Buffalo Bop and Norton. Nice.

(Thomas)

Shit In Can Records

LIVEFASTDIE

Pissing On The Mainframe 7”
Split with VCR 7”

LFD is probably the best new punkrock band to come out 2006. These singles aren’t any letdowns either. I’d easily say pick up anything by LFD and you won’t be disappointed. “Pissing on the mainframe” has them beating the shit out of three new songs in a dirty no-fi mix that fits them great. As has been stated before they do take a lot of their cues from GG Allin, but I also hear more stuff in there, like Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Ramones and the to die for guitars of the sadly defunct Baseball Furies. The split has two more cool ones, nothing new but just more great songs from this very productive band. VCR is where the new stuff emerges.. Apparently really young guys in the NYC scene to see and learn. Obviously they’ve already picked up some bits and pieces here and there. Cause they’re seriously really really cool. Melodic and garagey but going outside of the obvious traps and makeing it interesting, new and cool. Think a more 70’s punk sounding Black Lips recorded really trashy. Way cool!

(Thomas)
Douchemaster Records
Daggerman Records

THE POTENTIAL JOHNS
Split with THE CHINESE TELEPHONES LP

S/t 7”

The Potential Johns is/are Jeff Burke from the Marked Men/the Reds solo project. Anyone who’s heard his songs from the Marked Men and/or the Reds knows he’s got a real knack for songwriting and  writing catchy ones too.  That this stuff has lied unreleased for years is a shame. The single has three songs from ’96 or ’97 and another one from 2003. The LP has songs from 2004. The single is good, especially the 2003 song. It’s got better sound and more hooks than the a-side. The LP though is what knocks me real good. The Chinese Telephones are leaning a bit too much towards poppunk but in the end it’s okay. Four songs that are catchy but not very memorable. The PT’s side is amazing however. Five songs that are so catchy and great they melt my heart. Packed with emotion and hooks. Not unlike the Marked Men but different somehow... I love this stuff. Jeff’s a really great songwriter, both lyrics and music is top notch.  This should be a must for anyone who likes the Marked Men and the High Tension Wires!!!

(Thomas)
Cheeky Git Records
Sandwich Man Records

SNUFFED BY THE YAKUZA
Fast Livin’ + 3 7”

Static, fast, catchy punkrock outta Stockholm. I like these guys a lot and this is by far their finest release to date. They fit on vinyl suprisingly good. Their cd’s haven’t really captured their full on frantic live sound but this does. I like it! They even try a funny little ditty that sounds like a 50’s pop tune. Pretty funny but redundant. Just go out and get it though.

(Thomas)
Ken Rock Records

THE WAX MUSEUMS

Claw You Like A Cat 7”
Cool new Denton, Tx band. KBD style punkrock and it’s pretty damn cool. Memorable songs that would measure up against some of the best KBD singles for sure. Don’t know what to say except that if you like Rip Offf Records and Killed By Death this is definitely for you.
(Thomas)
HoZac Records